Fog dispersion device



- March 17,1970 ETAI- 3,501,096

FOG DISPERSION DEVICE Filed Jan. 11, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 sebumINVENTORS ROBERT E. STILWELL DEAN T. Me DONALD ATTORNEYS March 17, 1970R. E. ETAL 3,501,096

FOG DISPERSION DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 11, 1968 TIIE-I .:EI

INVENTORS ROBERT E STILWELL TI I '3 q DEAN T MCDONALD BY J 60 MATTORNEYS United States Patent US. Cl. 23914 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A tube of plastic-material such as polyethylene when securedto a blower such as an axial flow fan is extendable into the air for 125feet or more to discharge air, chemicals and the like from the end ofthe tube for dispersing fog, spraying trees, and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Airport use is greatly restricted during fogconditions. Various methods and techniques have been tried to eliminatethe fog at an airport so that planes :may land safely rather than beingdiverted to other airports. Considerable additional expense is involvedwhen planes land at fields other than their destination, and passengerinconvenience is great.

Attempts have been made to fly small aircraft over fog covered runwaysto drop such chemical as iodide crystals, Dry Ice or the like to reducethe effect of the fog so that larger commercial aircraft may land.However, such flying, even by small aircraft is dangerous, and creates ahazardous traflic situation over the runway.

It is to the problem of fog dispersion that the invention is directed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to apparatus formaintaining a length of tubing in the air by directing a flow of fluidtherethrough, and more particularly relates to means for forcefullyblowing air through a length of polyethylene tubing to effectuate aself-standing column of tubing, wherein the air is discharged from theuppermost end. The addition of chemicals to the stream of air from theblower can be used for fog dispersion, spraying high trees and the like.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an elongatedtubular structure maintainable in an upstanding position by air forcedtherethrough.

It is another object of the invention to provide a length of plastictubing adapted to be coupled to a blower for inflatably maintaining saidtubing in a self-substaining upright condition.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an elongate plastictube extendable and inflatable by blowing air therethrough, whereinchemicals may be added to the air stream for discharge of said chemicalsat the uppermost end of the inflatable extended plastic tube.

Another object of the invention is to provide an elongated plastic tubeinflatable and extendable by an air blower wherein pivoting of the airblower allows said inflated and extended tube to pivot therewith.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a means forfacilitating the inflation and extension of a flexible plastic tube andthe dispersion of chemicals and the like from the end of the tube.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a more efficientmeans for dispersing chemicals at various heights above ground for fogdispersion, spraying of trees and the like.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an upstandingplastic tube having a light means for Wamings, displays, and the like.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is an elevation of the apparatus ofthe present invention with the plastic tube of the apparatus beingbroken away so that only a small portion of its actual length isillustrated.

FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic elevation, particularly showing oneembodiment of the plastic tube and indicating in phantom lines theaction of the upper end of the tube during operation of the apparatus.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective showing one embodiment of a nozzleadapted for connection to the outer end of the plastic tube.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing an embodiment of thepresent invention that is adapted for mounting in compartments providedin the ground alongside an airport runway.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the embodiment of theinvention shown in FIG- URE 1 the reference numeral 20 indicates amachine for generating and discharging a blast of air. This machine issubstantially identical to that disclosed in US. Patent No. 2,768,859and reference may be had to this patent, which is incorporated byreference herein, for a detailed description of the construction andoperation of the machine. In general, the machine includes a blowerassembly 21 mounted on a frame 22 for pivotal movement about ahorizontal axis 23 so that the operator can control the angularpositioning of the discharge outlet 25 of the blower assembly asdescribed in US. Patent No. 2,768,859. It should also be noted thatframe 22 is rotatably mounted by means of a turntable 22a and wheels 22bon a mobile carrier frame 23 for movement around a vertical axis A. Thusthe blower assembly has the versatility of being positionable in avariety of angular positions for directing air blasts from thehorizontal to a vertical position. The rotation of the blower assemblyand frame 22 about axis A allows a 360 sweep of the air blast.

Power for the axial blower assembly 21 is provided as described with thesaid patent for driving the impeller of the blower and air is drawn inthrough protective screen 24 and discharged through the outlet 25. Inthe preferred embodiment the amount of air discharged can be as high as60,000'c.f.m.

For convenience, the operator is seated on a seat 26 to operate thecontrols 27 to position the axial blower assembly in the desireddirection and attitude.

Liquid chemicals may be injected into the discharged air blast as by anozzle 28, also described in the aforementioned patent. In this way, theliquid chemicals are carried along with the air blast from outlet 25. Inaccordance with the present invention, the air blast machine disclosedin Patent No. 2,768,859 is modified only by installing a dry chemicalfeeder 29 adjacent the inlet of the blower. The feeder 29 comprises ahopper 30 having a power driven paddle unit 31. The paddles agitate thechemicals and feed them downwardly through a vertical conduit 32 into atube 32a. The inlet end of the tube 32a carries a screen 33 while thedischarge end communicates in diameter and may be 150 feet long. Whenthe axial blower assembly is in operation, the air blast from outlet 25causes the tube 35 to extend to its full width and length to dischargethe air blast from the outlet 37 of the tube 35.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 2 the end 37 of the tube is completelyunrestrained and the air blast from the tube causes a whipping action ofthe upper end portion substantially as indicated in phantom lines. Thisis a random action and results in a dispersion of the air blast and anychemicals contained therein in a variety of directions from the end oftube 35 to effectively cover a large area relative to end 37.

At the end of tube 35 of the embodiment of FIGURE 1, a dispersionassembly or nozzle 40 is provided which comprises a plurality ofpolyethylene straps 41 secured at their lower ends to tube 35. Thestraps may be secured together at their upper ends to form a lift unit.A truncated cone 42 of plastic material is also secured to tube 35 atoutlet 37 as by a clamping ring 36a. The straps 41 afford a resistanceto the air blast at outlet 37 and thus aid in lifting the tube to itsfull extent and in maintaining the tube in a substantially extendedposition during operation. The cone portion 42 aids in dispersion of theair blast and any chemicals therein by the action of the cone as the airblast passes therethrough.

It should be noted that the tube 35 as extended and filled by the airblast is capable of being moved in a wand-like manner as shown inFIGURE 1. For example, it would be possible to pull the blower assemblydown a roadway or a runway with the blower assembly being pivoted aboutaxis 23 back and forth to thereby move the extended tube 35 like a wandto spread air chemicals over a wide area. Thus by the use of chemicalseffective for combating cold or warm fog, the tube 35 would dispersesuch chemicals to such an extent as to reduce the fog condition withinreach of the end of the tube 35, which may be as high as 150 feet in theair or more.

FIGURE 3 discloses another form of nozzle which also assists inextending the tube 35 when the axial blower assembly is in operation.The nozzle 50 comprises a plastic sheet 51 having four strap members 52secured by a suitable attachment to the outlet end 37 of tube 35. Anopening 53 is also provided in the upper central portion of sheet 51.Thus it can be seen that the air blast fills the sheet 51 and the airblast, and any chemicals therein, are discharged through the opening 53and through openings 54 defined between the straps 52 to disperse theair and chemicals at the end of the tube 35 in the directions indicatedby the arrows in FIGURE 3.

The material for the tube 35 may be of plastic sheet film material suchas polyethylene, or of a woven fabric such as nylon, or paper.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a portion of an airport along a runway60, with recessed compartments 61 provided alongside the runway atspaced intervals. The compartments 61 are large enough to contain anaxial blower assembly 63 with a tube 64 mounted thereon. The blowerassembly 63 may be identical to the blower assembly 21 of FIGURE 1except that it can be mounted on a fixed base instead of on the mobileframe 23. When the tube 64, which is identical to tube 35, is notextended by the air blast from assembly 63, it is disposed in collapsedcondition in the compartment and a protective grid 62 is moved intoplace to cover the opening to the compartment. When it is desired toextend the tube 64, the grid 62 is moved to one side to allow extensionof the tube 64 by the air blast from assembly 63. Chemicals added to theair blast, as hereinabove described, are dispersed from the end of eachtube 64 to disperse fog or the like along the runway 60.

Thus an elongated plastic tube has been described as attached to ablower wherein the air from the blower assists in elongating the tubeand also maintains the tube in an elongated position. With theintroduction of chemicals or the like into the air through the blower,it is possible to create a dispersion of chemicals and air at the farend of the elonagted tube. As the tube may be in lengths up to 150 feet,the combined blower and tube may be used for spraying chemicals for fogdispersion, for reaching tall trees, or even for the pollination of talltree crops such as dates. Further, since the tube is maintained in anelongate condition, and could be used with interior or exteriorlighting, the blower and tube could be used for lighted advertisingdisplays. Noteworthy, also, is the fact that the elongated tube can bemoved in wand-like fashion upon pivoting the blower assembly androtating it relative to its support.

Although the best mode contemplated for carrying out the presentinvention has been herein shown and described, it will be apparent thatmodification and variation may be made without departing from what isregarded to be the subject matter of the invention.

Having completed a detailed description of the invention so that thoseskilled in the art could practice the same, we claim:

1. A fog dispersing and spraying apparatus comprising in combination, alarge diameter collapsible tube having suflicient length to extend fromground level high into the atmosphere, at least one fluid dischargeopening in said tube, and means for blowing a volume of compressiblefluid into said tube at a rate and velocity sufficient to both distendand erect the tube to an upstanding position for delivery of the fluidinto the atmosphere.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tube is a cylinder.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tube is made of a polyethylenematerial.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tube is pivotally mounted formovement about a horizontal axis.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the tube is also mounted forrotation about a vertical axis.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tube is approximately feet inlength.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for introducing anadditive into said fluid so that the additive will be discharged intothe atmosphere along 'with the said fluid.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the means for introducing anadditive is a means for introducing a. chemical.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further including an air lift unit at theextended end of said tube to assist in lifting the said tube to its fullextent and in mainaining said tube in a substantially extended position.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said air lift unit is an air bafllewith openings adjacent thereto through which the said fluid isdischarged.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,958,385 5/1934 Sweelland239-204 1,974,538 9/1934 Johnston 239-77 X 2,752,195 6/1956 Whitehead239-206 2,768,859 10/ 1956 Patterson 239-77 2,901,183 8/1959 Kohl239-205 2,921,743 1/ 1960 Westover et a1. 239-189 2,954,932 10/1960Albano 239-188 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner H. S. LANE, AssistantExaminer US. Cl. X.R.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 ,501,096 A Dated March 17, 1 970 Inventor(s) Robert E Stilwe] 1 et a1 It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 64, "cruvature" should read curvature Column 3, line 33,after "air" insert and Signed and sealed this 2nd day of November 1971(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer ActingCommissioner of Patents

